GUELPH, Ont. – After 16 seasons of leading the University of Guelph Gryphons women's hockey program to new heights, Rachel Flanagan's outstanding coaching career at U of G has come to an end, with the five-time OUA Coach of the Year leaving the University of Guelph to continue her coaching career in the professional ranks with the PWHL's Toronto franchise. Katie Mora, the reigning OUA Coach of the Year, takes over full-time head coaching duties for the Gryphons women's hockey program. Mora, who has been with the Gryphons for nine seasons as a coach (2016-present) after having also played fives season as a Gryphon student-athlete (2010-2015), takes over the full-time head coach duties after a memorable 2023-24 season, where she served as the team's interim head coach and helped the Gryphons establish a new program single-season record for wins with 23.
 
"This program would not be where it is today without the incredible contributions of Rachel over the years," says Mora, who previously served as Flanagan's associate head coach for seven seasons. "Rachel has been an incredible mentor for not only myself, but for so many who have come through this program. She has left this program in a great place because of her hard work and talent and we know that she will continue to excel within the PWHL and beyond."
 
Flanagan is set to return to the PWHL's Toronto franchise as an assistant coach, after a successful first season in the professional ranks where she served as an assistant on the Toronto coaching staff, helping the team finish first overall in the regular season standings during the league's inaugural season.
 
"It has been the honour of my life to serve the Gryphons women's hockey program for so many years," says Flanagan, who led the Gryphons to the only national title in program history during the 2018-19 season. "I am so grateful to the women who have allowed me to be part of their journey not only as hockey players, but more importantly, as people. I will miss that the most. I am excited for Katie and her staff to continue to break records on the ice and to lead the next generation of Gryphons women's hockey players." During Flanagan's tenure as head coach of the University of Guelph women's hockey program, she led the team to three OUA championship titles (2015-16, 2016-17, and 2018-19), and was was twice named the OUA Women's Coach of the Year (from across all OUA-governed sports) in 2017 and 2019. "I would like to thank the University of Guelph and the Department of Athletics for trusting me to lead this program for so long," adds Flanagan, who has served as head coach since 2007. "I will forever be grateful to Scott McRoberts (Director of Athletics) and Wally Gabler (Associate Director, Intercollegiate) among many others, for their support and friendship in recent years as I transition into the professional game." Flanagan's time at the University of Guelph dates back to her undergraduate days, with the Pontypool, Ontario native playing five seasons with the Gryphons women's hockey team, including serving as team captain prior to graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2003.
 
For Katie Mora, a familiar face is set to return to the coaching staff for the 2024-25 season, with Meagan Lee, a member of the Gryphons 2018-19 OUA and U SPORTS-winning team, back on the staff as an assistant coach. Goalie coach Katie Greenway also returns to the Gryphons for the upcoming 2024-25 campaign, with the first of six preseason games set to get underway on Saturday, September 14 when the Gryphons head to Brock.
 
The Gryphons will play at 26-game regular season schedule in 2024-25, with puck drop for the season opener set for October 11 at Ontario Tech. The Gryphons will play four straight road games to begin the new season, with the home opener set for Thursday, October 24 versus York.